Pistols, Rifles, Machine Guns and Crew Served Weapons of Partitioned Poland and the Polish 2nd Republic

Article about: by stoggie I don't know what the K represents, but I do recall one for sale that also had that marking, and it was said to be from the Krakow armoury. For all I know it could be a inspector

wz. 38M Maroszek semi-automatic military rifle

A new internet listing of a rarely seen rifle. The item description provides some good historical background to an interesting firearm:

by Polish wz. 38M Maroszek semi-automatic military rifle

Very scarce Polish wz. 38M Maroszek semi-automatic military rifle! Today, this is probably the most difficult to find military rifle on the collector market. There are only seven known examples of wz.38 M rifles in collections around the world (1. Polish Army Museum, Warsaw, Poland, deactivated; 2. Central Armed Forces Museum, Moscow, Russia; 3. National Firearms Museum, Fairfax, Virginia, USA; 4, 5. private collections in the USA; 6. private collection in Germany; 7. this one, Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA). Some time ago, there were rumors of wz.38M being on display at the Museum of War, Beijing, China (unconfirmed). The known serial numbers are: 1017, 1019, 1027, 1030, 1048, 1054 (the Russian museum rifle serial number is unknown). There may be one, or two more rifles of this type hidden somewhere in the world, but that is about it! The rifle was designed by a Polish engineer Józef Maroszek. He was known mainly as a designer of Polish anti-tank rifle wz.1935 "UR". Józef Maroszek was one of the three winners of Poland’s 1934 self-loading rifle trials. Several prototypes and pre-production samples of his rifle were manufactured from 1936 to 1938. After a Polish army order was received, a small scale production began in 1938. It is believed that only about 150 rifles of this pattern were manufactured before the German invasion of Poland. The production was not resumed under the German occupation. The wz.38M rifles were manufactured by the Zbrojownia Nr. 2 (Arsenal No.2) in Warsaw (Praga). The barrels were supplied by the Panstwowa Fabryka Karabinow (the State Rifle Factory) in Warsaw. The highest serial number observed is 1054 (it is assumed that the numbering started from "1001", not counting the prototypes and pre-production series). The decision was made to begin a serial production of the rifle at the Fabryka Broni (the Arms Factory) in Radom in 1938. However, it is unclear if any rifles of this pattern left the Radom factory before a German invasion (all the surviving examples display "Zbr.2" markings). Józef Maroszek stated that he had seen a group of German soldiers armed with wz.38M rifles in occupied Warsaw. This is perhaps the only indication that Maroszek rifles were reissued to Nazi forces. The rifle is gas operated with the gas tube located under the barrel. Tilting bolt. Ten round non-detachable magazine loaded from Mauser clips. The safety lever is located on the right side of the receiver, just above the trigger. Mauser-style tangent leaf rear sight graduated from 300 to 2000 meter. Bayonet lug for a standard Polish issue bayonet wz.29. Two piece stock. Two sling swivels. This rifle was manufactured by the Zbrojownia Nr. 2 (Arsenal No.2) in Warsaw (Praga) in 1938, as indicated by markings on the receiver ring. All matching serial numbers (the serial numbers are stamped on the receiver, bolt, barrel, stocks, handguard and on some internal parts of the rifle). All the serial numbers are factory original, and they were not restamped. Very high quality of manufacturing! The rifle was a part of my private collection of Polish military firearms for about twenty years. CONDITION: Excellent. 98% of crisp blue finish. The bore is in excellent conditions as well, with strong and shiny rifling. Mechanically, the rifle is in perfect condition. Beautiful stock in original finish with very few handling marks. All the markings and numbers are clearly visible on metal. All the internal parts of the rifle are in excellent+ condition, with no visible wear. The magazine shows some dents under the blue finish, which may indicate that it was repaired and refinished. No import markings. Beautiful and unique Polish wz. 38M Maroszek semi-automatic military rifle! Serial# 1019. (Ref. "Polskie Konstrukcje Broni Strzeleckiej" by Z. Gwozdz and P. Zarzycki, pp.173-177).

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All thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical and/or legal advice.

"Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne

Wow, a rare and beautiful beast indeed. Very interesting.
Looks to be very good quality too, as stated in the text.
One can not help to wonder, what happened with the few remaining ones in the turmoil of the German invasion.

The outline of the gentle flowing and elegant 'hump' on the receiver looks a bit like some of the modern Browning BAR hunting rifles (which has a down scaled version of the hump on the venerable Auto 5, which is a favourite of mine).

The main differences between the Polish made version and the American made version were:
Change of caliber to the Polish army standard 7.92X57mm
The loop iron sights were changed to ''V'' notch sights
It was made with a longer barrel
The rifle lock was modified so that it was easier to exchange barrels after one has been used
Mounting and sights were adapted to be used for anti-aircraft fire
Later in 1938 the trigger mechanism was modified to a newer reliable system

Production of test models started in 1930 and in by March 1931 the first 200 models were sent to units. Between 1930 and 1939 7,831 + models were built.

After the Polish-Soviet war, Poland had many machine guns from different countries in service. The Polish army decided to replace them all with a newly designed Polish made machine gun. Initially a Polish made version of the French made Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun was suppose to be made. 1,000 were ordered in 1925 from France to be tested. The Polish army ruled out the Hotchkiss machine gun as it was below the needs of the Polish army. Tests were done comparing the Browning M1917 to other machine guns, but the M1917 proved to be the best. The Polish ministry then decided to create a locally produced version of the machine gun.

DESCRIPTION: A prototype of Polish Radom VIS wz.1935 semi automatic pistol. The pistol was manufactured at the Radom factory in Poland in the early 1930-s. Very low, two digit serial number: 45. The pistol was manufactured without the Radom factory legend on the on the left side of the slide. The left side of the trigger displays a Polish Eagle (please, see pictures). Several Radom factory production markings are stamped on both side of the trigger guard and on the trigger. Matching serial numbers are stamped on the frame and on the slide. The barrel displays a number, "20" (this could be either a serial number, or a production number). No serial numbers are stamped on the remaining parts of the pistol, which is correct for this model. The serial numbers are factory original and were not restamped. The slide and barrel displays several Radom factory production markings (please, see pictures). The machining and polishing of the frame, slide and barrel is different from the later production VIS pistols. The internal mechanism of the pistol seems to be the same as in later production pistols. The magazine displays a typical Radom factory Greek letters and some other symbols and numbers. Original Polish pre-war black grips. Three levers. Cut for shoulder stock. Grip safety. Complete with a lanyard loop. Very high quality of machining and metal finish! This pistol comes from my personal collection of Polish military firearms. CONDITION: Excellent. 90% of crisp, original blue finish is still remaining on metal. The balance is in white. The blue is worn mainly on the front and rear part of the hilt (this may indicate that the pistol was used for a very long firing test). All the markings and numbers are clearly visible on metal. All the internal parts of the pistol are in excellent condition, with no obvious wear. Black plastic grips are in excellent condition with only minor handling marks. Very crisp action. Mechanically, the pistol is in excellent condition. Bore is in excellent condition with strong and shiny rifling. All original condition. Museum-quality prototype of Polish VIS wz.1935 pistol! Serial# 45. (Ref. "Polskie Konstrukcje Broni Strzeleckiej" by Z. Gwozdz and P. Zarzycki, pp.78-85; also in "The Vis Pistol" by Robert J. Berger, pp.9-12).

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All thoughts and opinions expressed are those of my own and should not be mistaken for medical and/or legal advice.

"Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday." - John Wayne

Polish Military Organization - group from Częstochowy. Szudejki high school students in Częstochowy who disarmed Germans posing with Mannlicher 1896 rifles .
Event Date: 1918-11-11
Location: Częstochowy

I emailed this photo to an Imperial German milsurp collector and he identified the rifles in the photograph as being Gew 88 rifles and not Mannlicher M1896 rifles. I am not an expert of either the Gew 88 nor the Mannlicher M1896 rifle. However given the caption that these are Szudejki high school students in Częstochowy who disarmed Germans, I'm wondering if my friend is correct?

Captured Imperial German machine guns in Polish service

Imperial German Maschinengewehr 08 medium machine guns used by the Wojsko Polskie (Polish designation ckm wz.08). The MG08 was the standard machine gun used by the Imperial German Army in World War One:

MG08/15 variant of the MG08 with bipod, pistol grip and shoulder stock.

Ckm wz.08 in use with optical viewfinder wz.08 ZF during the Battle for Warsaw.